Nxxt in West Ukrainian Village (East Humboldt Park?)
Nxxt in West Ukrainian Village (East Humboldt Park?)
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Nxxt in West Ukrainian Village (East Humboldt Park?)
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Post #1 - February 15th, 2008, 10:42 pmAlrighty folks...the GF and I waltzed over to our newest neighborhood joint tonight for din-din. We have watched over the months as this corner spot has gone through the typical opening growing pains. Well, after much ado, it opened last week and we were diggin' the scene. Okay, I need to point out that this is not the typical "misunderstood hipster" place like the Continental and Feed on the next block. A very chic interior, with red upholstered banquets and an extremely attentive staff, made us feel very welcome upon entering (actually the door was opened for us by smiling staff).
Even though it was semi-bustling at about 7pm, we were taken straight-away to a table downstairs...kind of a cozy basement lounge feel with its own bar. Our waiter, Dan, is fresh from Oregon - he said he's ready for spring in 6 weeks...sucker!
The menu, by chef Jonathan Meyer, was straight-up American with flair. Y'all might have seen the blurb in Daily Candy as well.
We started with the onion tart and a caesar salad. The caesar was deliciously on-target and true to style, complete with white anchovies. The onion tart had a modern twist, more like a flatbread pizza. Crispy crust, with a creme fraiche sauce, carmelized onions and baby greens. Regardless, it was tasty, with a smoky, creamy, rustic goodness.
GF had the "chicken under a brick" but subbed the mac & cheese for the mashed potatoes. All delish, especially the mac/cheese topped with a beer cheese sauce...mmm.
I had the burger with all the trimmings (I honestly can't remember everything on it, but you can get it plain for $4 less). I do know that it was topped with a fried egg and delicious, delicious bacon. Some cheese and greens too...sorry for the lack of detail, but I was in the burger zone. You MUST try this burger. I ordered it mid-rare and it was perfect.
Oh, yeah...those sweet potato fries? Addictive. Sprinkled with kosher salt and just crisp enough without being greasy/soggy.
No room for dessert, so we'll come back for that next time.
The wine list was all American, and had some nice high-end selections, but was very lacking in that "sweet spot" range of $30 to $50 bottles...
Nxxt Restaurant & Bar
2700 West Chicago Avenue, at Washtenaw Avenue
(773-489-6998).- Mark
Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon? Ham? Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.
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Post #2 - February 20th, 2008, 11:34 amDH and I visited Nxxt on Monday night. I agree the sign is ridiculous, but if the food is good, who cares.
The decor is really cool and different. We sat in the downstairs space which is quite cozy and the leather seats are extremely comfortable.
We went on a mission---to try their burger will all the fixin's. So, we decided not to indulge in a real appetizer and instead ordered a side of hushpuppies to start. They were OMG delicious. A side is three which was perfect. They are house-made with big chunks of corn and other veggies have honey drizzled over them. Just really good. Perfectly fried. Our waitress told us that everything is made in house. (including the tater tots, which we did not try).
My husband was thrilled with the beer list. They had many of his favorites and he said they were very well-priced. They had Three Philosophers, Domaine Dupage (on draft) Old Rasputin to name a few. I was not so thrilled with the by the glass wine selection. There were very few choices and the two I had (a pinot and zinfandel) both were somewhat MEH.
Anyway, the main event....The burgers. DH and I both ordered the exact same thing---NXXT Burger- Medium rare. Comes with: grilled onion, tomato, lettuce, cheese (something white which I can't recall), bacon, fried egg and sun-dried tomato aoli. The burgers were really fantastic. DH said it rivals the Kuma Burger for his heart. I don't know that I would dare go that far on LTH, but it was damn good. Also it's right by my house and currently there is absolutely no wait to get in, so that helps!
The burgers come with sweet potato fries, which were fantastic.
The only weak spot for me with the food was the mac and cheese we ordered on the side. It was just whatever. It came in a cube like it had been cut out of a lasagna pan, which is fine. It jsut wasn't very creamy, which is how I like my mac. I'm sure certain people would like it however it was not to my particular taste for mac & cheese.
The staff was very friendly and glad to be there. All in all it was a very good experience. It's not cheap. There are some really interesting looking entrees-duck, chicken, etc in the $20+ price range. For sandwiches it's either burgers or a good looking grilled cheese and tomatos soup combo. DH is looking forward to going back and sampling more. We are glad to have them in our hood!
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Post #3 - February 20th, 2008, 11:43 amThank you both for your reviews. This is really encouraging that there is a promising new restaurant in my area (although I'm more on the East side of the Village
). West Town/Humboldt Park/Ukrainian Village and my new favorite moniker, Noble Square, all still share a dearth of, in my opinion, quality, reasonably-priced restaurants that are pleasant to sit down in to have a meal and a drink or two.
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Post #4 - February 20th, 2008, 11:47 amjust out of curiosity are there any options on the menu that won't give me a heart attack within 30 seconds of ordering
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Post #5 - February 20th, 2008, 2:53 pmThere were definitely some salads (which probably had all manner of unhealthy, but delicious, things on them) and a chicken entree and a veggie entree (something yummy sounding with leeks and lentils), and my husband was coveting the duck, which didn't sound the least bit diet friendly. If memory serves, I think one of the fish dishes involved some sort of pork product as well! The menu definitely skews to the upscale american comfort food trend that everyone seems to be embracing much to my tastebuds' (but not so much my jeans') delight!
I hope they get a menu up on their website or at least menupages soon.
I Googled it looking for a menu (didn't find one) but found these photos of the inside. It's cool.
http://leo.media.mit.edu/?p=375
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Post #6 - February 20th, 2008, 7:29 pmBoth food and space look great! Based on pics can't help but wonder if there is an age limit? Like 35 and under
"I drink to make other people more interesting."
Ernest Hemingway
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Post #7 - February 20th, 2008, 8:13 pmMarshall K wrote:Both food and space look great! Based on pics can't help but wonder if there is an age limit? Like 35 and under
It definitely appeals to the younger crowd of East HP/West UV but I feel that there is room to move. When we were there it was mostly "Chads & Trixies" with some local family-types mixed in.
The manager, George, is very nice and accommodating. They don't lack for staff, that is for sure! Service is important, it seems.
I'm looking forward to another visit, since it's 3 blocks from our home.- Mark
Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon? Ham? Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.
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Post #8 - April 4th, 2008, 12:52 pmI really wanted to like this place for no other reason than the owner's seemed to put a lot of money in the place and they're far enough west to be a bit of a pioneer (or interloping gentrifier, depending on your viewpoint).
Nxxt suffers from a case of schizophrenia. I don't think it knows if it wants to be a restaurant or a bar. Nothing terribly wrong with that, as I am geniuinely at ease in gastropubs as they can deliver the best of both worlds for the type of extended sit-downs I tend to favor.
However, white tablecloth service with large flat panel tv's doesn't seem to work, especially when the tv's are 6 feet away from the dining room tables. The tv's, tuned to a game of course, were casting so much light into what is a relatively small room, that I don't think they needed any other lighting at all, save for the tv's and the light from the street coming in through the windows, even though it was 9 pm. When they turned one off, at my request as it was literally 6 inches from my wife's face, the ambiance became much more bearable.
Ok, since we've gotten that out of the way on to the food and drinks.
The food was pretty unforgettable EXCEPT for the fact everything seems to be drowning in balsamic vinegar. I got the duck breast and duck confit and while I acknowledge that that's going to be a rich dish needing some acid, all I tasted was the vinegar. Grilled veggies were the same. I found prices to be on the high end with the duck coming in over $24 I think. Also, I except an entree to come on a plate, not a bowl. It was more of a duck nicoise salad given the sides were shredded brussel sprouts and sliced potatoes and the meat was all removed from the bone and everything was piled on top of each other. So basically, I paid $24+ for a salad.
Drinks also came in on the high end, $12 for cocktails where similar places, e.g. Paramount Room, come in closer to $11 for generally much better executed libations. I could give them a pass for the extra buck, but advertised cocktails described as being up were served on the rocks sinificantly reducing the liquor content. Generally all the drinks were heavily watered down, even the martini's, because they use the type of ice you get out of the self serve machines at McD's. Ice wafers is the closest I could describe them.
Crowd was genuinely mixed, as one would expect for the neighborhood. I'd attribute the overabunance of the 20-somethings in visits by previous posters to maybe the owner's and staff's friends coming to a new place. Now they've settled in a bit the crowed seems to have diversified, at least the Friday I was there. However, it was getting pretty empty by 10 so I'm not sure if the bar/restaurant thing is going to keep them coming in later until they either 1. figure out they need to bring the food prices down and drink quality up, or 2. bring the food quality up and lose some of the distractions.
Maybe they'll figure this out before the weather gets warmer because they have a great corner location with lots of large windows that would really make the place nice to visit with better weather, if there were another reason to go.
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Post #9 - April 4th, 2008, 3:23 pmI had mentioned NXXT in the openings thread and made it in a month or so ago after patiently waiting..(I was at A.Vision shopping for wine, I ran into the owner and chef a month or two prior to them opening and they gave me the run down... they were hoping to create an upscale place that was still accessible enough to be a neighborhood establishment that people could go for casual dinners as well. The chef I said he hails from Lettuce Entertain You (Ba Ba Reeba)).
That in mind, I was a tad bit annoyed when we arrived and were told they didn't have any tables available because they were all marked for reservations. So we had to sit at the bar, of which there were two choices... one upstairs one downstairs. For some reason they encouraged the downstairs bar as being more intimate, but after going downstairs I immediately kind of wished we had stayed upstairs. The bartender downstairs was very, very friendly (don't remember her name, blond girl from Indiana).. perhaps too friendly. She made a pretty mean cocktail or two. I like bartenders that you can say "make me whatever" and they actually have some specialties in their back pocket... Too often lately I end up getting a blank stare back and end up ordering something boring. She made some pretty interesting, unique mixes I've never heard of... (she was muddling lavender and this and that in one drink... basil in another... mine was some really twist on an old school drink that I don't recall). "Others" in my party found her to be too chatty and annoying.
The food was good. We started off with some beet salad, and I actually don't remember what else, which is bothersome because the thing I started with was the best part! (ohhhh what was it...). I moved on and had braised short ribs, which while good were nothing too extraordinary. The cornbread sauce it was on was actually the better thing in the dish, the beef lacked any excitement.
Decor-wise, I really like the looks of the place. I actually preferred the upstairs, the downstairs was a little too 4-year-old-all-white-trendy-but-oh-look-its-still-a-basement, whereas the upstairs felt more airy yet modern.
I'd go back, but I'd rather have a sit down table next time... I'm not going to plop down that kind of dough too often to sit at a bar.
I agree, drinks were on the expensive side. i think everything on the drink menu was over $10.
so while i guess they're doing good business, they didn't really stick with keeping the neighborhood residents in mind. if the neighborhood residents could afford several rounds of $13 martinis on a casual night weekly basis, they'd be living in the heart of wicker park, not being urban pioneers in humboldt park!
were you downstairs or upstairs? if you were annoyed at the flat panel tvs and what not, you might've preferred the downstairs.
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Post #10 - April 4th, 2008, 5:03 pmJohnathan the chef is no longer at this place. He's been gone for about 2-3 weeks. His Sous Alex has the helm.
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Post #11 - May 18th, 2008, 4:42 pmStill no menu on the website, but we got a flier in our mailbox the other week advertising Mother's Day brunch. I threw it in a pile of mail and only looked at it today, and I just had to share this, uh, ambitious item ($6):NXXT omelet: a chicago style dog in scrambled eggs using all-beef vienna franks on a poppyseed bun available with red onion, pickle spear, tomato wedges, mustard, & sport peppers
My own dear mother used to regularly refer to certain combinations of ingredients and/or foods as "perverse," and I can think of no more fitting adjective.
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Post #12 - June 26th, 2008, 10:09 amI hear they're closed.
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Post #13 - June 26th, 2008, 11:07 amthey're "temporarily closed" re-opening in Mid-July
..recent reviews on nxxt have shown it was going down the tubes, maybe the chef thing... maybe they're trying to locate someone new as a result... or maybe they're fixing their identity crisis issues
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Post #14 - June 26th, 2008, 11:27 amI live very close and they never seem to have the crowd needed to survive as a restaurant, but it is a charming space and the staff is very friendly. I hope they return!- Mark
Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon? Ham? Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.
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Post #15 - July 10th, 2008, 5:15 amapparently Nxxt is gone gone.. and is now reopening next week as "Cats Meow" (which seems to already be the name of a clothing store in chicago on the south side?)... it sounds like they're trying to go loungey night club
There's a "free admission" opening party (whatever the hell that means??? no free food/drinks ??) who knows...
it says "Eat. Drink. Lounge." ... again, whatever the hell that means?? I am starting to feel old now and I haven't broken 30.
i just signed up after someone posted saying that was a thursday, then i realized it's a saturday... bleh.
you can rsvp for the party by going to: http://chicago.going.com/event-354412;C ... nd_Opening
nxxt's web site doesn't mention the cats meow thing, instead it's now a "ooops, sites currently unavailable" ... sounds like someone in the nxxt world made a departure and didn't want to be part of the cat's meow world. http://nxxtchicago.com/
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Post #16 - July 10th, 2008, 7:48 amhere's info on the place btw: http://www.music-101.com/ssps/events/venues/55"Cat's Meow" bops onto West Town's Burgeoning Bar Scene
Neighborhood hangout showcases fresh vibe of music, food and lounging
CHICAGO- There's a new Hep Cat in West Town come Saturday, July 19, when Cat's Meow, a corner lounge and eatery located at 2700 W. Chicago Avenue, arrives on the local scene. The neighborhood hangout serves the freshest in drinks, food, music and all-around good times in an indoor-outdoor setting ready made for the summer sun.
Recent & Upcoming Events
* Cat's Meow Friends & Family Party (07-17-2008)
* Cat's Meow Grand Opening (07-19-2008)
In the spirit of West Town's established hub of local haunts like The Black Beetle and Continental, Cat's Meow is a welcome addition to the mix, featuring a bar-friendly menu of daily specials, sandwiches, salads, specialty drinks and draft beers. The bi-level venue features two spacious bars and a 100-person capacity patio. Live musicians, DJs and a loaded jukebox bring the whole kit 'n kaboodle to the West Town social scene while managing to never take itself too seriously.
The Digs
Cat's Meow marks the return of Chicago nightlife innovator, Arman Razavi. For more than 20 years, Razavi has been a part of Chicago's evolving nightscape. The opening of his famed venture, Mad Bar, in the mid-1990's changed the face of Chicago nightlife by melding the easy vibe of a corner bar with the energy of a dance venue. Since then, Razavi has kept a visible presence on the Chicago nightlife scene, hosting music-driven events at clubs and lounges, consulting and managing various nightlife destinations while studying business through others' points of view. His promotion and marketing company, Music 101, has kept him active in the scene while he perfected his next projects. Now, seven years after Mad Bar's closing, Razavi returns to what he does best, looking to offer guests a chilled-out blend of good food and great times at his new West Town hangout.
Located on the corner of Chicago and Washtenaw Avenues, Cat's Meow is a 2,700 square foot space with a fully refurbished interior. Inside, the Birchwood bar is the centerpiece, capped with a white marble top and plenty of seats for bellying up. Black leather high- and low-back chairs dot the first level, alongside interior glass walls for a cleanly designed space. Chicago artist Jeff Zimmerman also painted a portion of the interior walls.
Walk downstairs to the lower level, and guests find a bright mix of red, modular seating ready-made for enjoying drinks and meals with friends. An additional bar in the lower-level lounge -coupled by a premiere sound system filtering music from upstairs - ensures that the party stays charged until last call.
Cat's Meow also features the one of the largest outdoor patio in West Town. With its 100-person capacity, it begs guests to spend hot weekend afternoons kicking back with cold cocktails. Cat's Meow will evolve from a chilled out patio serving neighborhood crowds and families by day, to a hot lounge hangout bringing the best in live music and lounging by night.
Contact Information
2700 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
United States
(773) 489-6998
view map
Web site
info@catsmeowchicago.com
The Dish
Cat's Meow menu features a bold mix of starters, sandwiches, entrees, salads and soups. It also serves up weekend brunch, serving both simple and stellar fare between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
In working with local growers and using the freshest seasonal ingredients, the Cat's Meow kitchen has kept food costs at a minimum and quality at a premium. Signature items include a 10 oz. Black Angus burger, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, jumbo chicken wings and crab cakes - all ranging between an $8 to $10 price point. Cat's Meow also features a daily food special paired with a beer or cocktail of the day.
Best brunch bets skew from simple to simply decadent. Eggs, pancakes, omelets and complete kids menu are available for families. Cat's Meow signature dishes include egg pastry puffs with wild mushrooms and spinach, country-style biscuits and gravy and eggs benedict topped with filet medallions.
Bloody Marys, mimosas and Bellinis complement a full weekend out while keeping the wallet in check. Cat's Meow also serves a late night bar menu for the less-than-early-rising set, and for larger appetites, entrees include an affordable and mouthwatering pork chop, New York Strip, grilled chicken, seared Ahi tuna steak, or towering salads.
Entree prices average between $8 and $15.
Cat's Meow welcomes reservations, walk-in parties and outings with families and kids. The dog-friendly patio full coffee menu - including cappuccino and latte drinks - makes Cat's Meow patio and interior digs a welcoming summer retreat.
The Drinks
Whether they're thirsty for a PBR or a Pinot Noir, Cat's Meow drink menu runs the gamut, featuring an array of specialty cocktails, draft and bottled beers and wines by the glass and bottle.
Chad Johnson, famed mixologist at Chicago's Bungalow and 2007 winner of Metromix Chicago's Best Bartender contest, self-styled a cocktail menu ready-made to make patrons purr. Like its food menu, Cat's Meow keeps neighborhood tap prices in check, charging $6 to $8 for cocktails and $3 to $5 for beers.
On tap, West Town locals can find comfy mainstays of Miller High Life and PBR, sometimes on special for as little as two bucks a pop. A full selection of domestic beers, imports and microbrews - along with wine flights and regular tasting parties - give neighborhood crowds the full spectrum of chill and chic.
The Diversions
Music sets the nightly vibe at Cat's Meow—whether it's rock, '80s, electro, Brazilian Jazz or house. Razavi expands his reach from the successful formula set forth by his own Music 101 promotion company, making Cat's Meow more about the music and less about the DJ. The venue headlines small, local bands, jazz guitarists and even put the occasional rock impresario in the mix. By night, the place pumps with a party-heavy vibe framed by rock, electro, occasional house and always fun; for brunch, guests unwind to the sunny sounds of funk, Latin or the soothing strum of a Brazilian Jazz guitarist.
Sports seekers find plenty of solace too; Cat's Meow features two giant flat screens, perfect for catching sporting events and the Olympic Games. Guests can hang out while one of the friendly, neighborhood bar staff pours their drinks with a smile. The Cat's Meow slick service staff is a mix of neighborhood locals and renowned 'tenders keeping patrons happy afternoon and night.
Guests can also relax inside or out with their laptops. Free WiFi is available for customers on the patio and inside, along with plenty of street parking and a parking lot located next door. Cat's Meow is also on the city's waiting list for installation of brand new bike racks, so bicyclists will have plenty of space for locking up their rides.
Cat's Meow invites the press and guests to preview West Town's favorite new joint. It hosts its opening press party on Wednesday, July 16 followed by a family and friends gathering on Thursday, July 17. Cat's Meow throws its grand opening party on Saturday, July 19, inaugurating the real start of summer, featuring electro trio FFM (live).
Cat's Meow is located at 2700 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. Current hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Reservations are accepted; family-friendly and dog friendly patio. Strollers welcome! Contact (773) 489-6998 for more information. The website, www.catsmeowchicago.com is currently under construction. Please check back for updates as the opening nears.
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Post #18 - July 10th, 2008, 9:27 amCan someone please report back on how the local crab cakes are?
Thanks.
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Post #19 - July 10th, 2008, 9:48 amdddane wrote:here's info on the place btw: http://www.music-101.com/ssps/events/venues/55the Cat's Meow kitchen has kept food costs at a minimum
Yum - I can't wait to dine on the absolute cheapest ingredients the kitchen can scrounge up ...
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Post #20 - July 10th, 2008, 11:19 amAs Gordon Ramsay would say, in his non-swear-y moments: "oh, dear, oh dear, oh dear..."
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